Blues Brothers show brings Sturgis crowd to its feet

Opening with a video that slowly lapsed into the band members on stage playing back up to the scenes, Friday night’s Blues Brothers Revue at Sturges-Young Auditorium was quick to pump up the energy.Combining video and audio to recreate scenes from Blues Brothers past, the blend was a delight to both eyes and ears, offering all there is to absorb from the Blues Brothers.

Comment

By Laura Kurella

Sturgis Journal - Sturgis, MI

By Laura Kurella

Posted Oct. 21, 2013 at 2:00 PM

By Laura Kurella
Posted Oct. 21, 2013 at 2:00 PM

Review

Opening with a video that slowly lapsed into the band members on stage playing back up to the scenes, Friday night’s Blues Brothers Revue at Sturges-Young Auditorium was quick to pump up the energy.

Combining video and audio to recreate scenes from Blues Brothers past, the blend was a delight to both eyes and ears, offering all there is to absorb from the Blues Brothers.

With super, stereophonic sound and high definition clarity, the group rolled from one famous tune to the next, giving viewers the feeling of what it must have felt like to have the original Blues Brothers – Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi — in front of you.

With hits like “Hey Bartender,” “Gimme Some Lovin’,” and “Sweet Home Chicago,” the high-noted energy being expelled on stage had no trouble energizing the audience to its feet several times this night.

“I had to keep reminding myself it wasn’t them,” said Lori Wright of Sturgis, who had front row seats. “Dan Ackroyd was so ‘spot-on’ it was hard to believe that it wasn’t really him. This guy looks, acts and sounds like the real McCoy!”

Opening the second half of the show with, “Green Onions,” then continued to roll through more hits “I need you,” “She Caught the Katy,” and “Raw Hide,” which segued into a hilarious, hand-motioned version of “Stand By Your Man,” drawing uproarious laugher from the audience.

Offering the same attitude, animations and body language as the original Blues Brother duo, it was very easy to forget that you weren’t watching the real thing.

Elwood was most especially in complete character – from head to toe to cheek – all the way down to the signature gum-smacking, harmonica playing and dead-on vocals.

Jake appeared visually in near perfect doppelganger to the late Belushi, though not as physical — no flips, cartwheels, etc. However, he looked, and sounded near to the real McCoy as you will likely get, given that Belushi was so “one-of-a-kind.”

Koko Taylor’s niece, Ebonie Taylor, served as back up singer and dancer and offered up a couple rousing rhythm and blues tunes as well.

Adding in a few more energizing tunes like “Shout” with lots of audience accompaniment, which was followed by an audience participation singing/shouting competition between the left and right side of the theater, one would think the energy level couldn’t get any higher. However, the band returned to the stage after a catcalled and screamed encore requests, finishing the evening with “Going Back to Miami.”

Page 2 of 2 - “It was a wonderful show,” sighed Rita Scheske of Sturgis. “It had so much energy. What a great time it was!”